His fulcrum leaves an open hole between the thumb and the hand and the stick is held out at the first joint of the index finger.

And yes his hi hats are set up on the opposite sides of the kit with the use of cable hats. So when he plays the bass drum with his right foot and closes the hi hat with his left he will be playing the hi hat on his right side. and vice versa.

Mike's clinics are great. He is full of energy and very detail oriented.